Would anyone recognize Nikola Tesla? Or Isaac Newton? Or even heard of them or what they did?

I think most people would have a fair idea of what Isaac Newton did, and might even recognise his portrait. That distinctive barnet and sour expression ...

But your general point is valid. People's fame and adoration are not dependent of a fair measurement of their technical achievements.

One of Jobs' greatest achievements (besides the Apple II and the Mac and all that, you know, computery stuff) is the fabled Reality Distortion Field. An excessively long and hysterical period of mourning only adds to the RDF, increasing the total sum of his achievements and thereby validating the excessively long and hysterical period of mourning.

I think most people would have a fair idea of what Isaac Newton did, and might even recognise his portrait. That distinctive barnet and sour expression ...

I think you give "most people" way too much credit.

Sure, I can see how it can be kinda the case in the UK and its culturally descendant places (the same way how in Poland most should have a basic idea and recognize the portrait of Copernicus, or have a very basic idea about Marie Skłodowska-Curie - but doubtful about her portrait, the most widespread ones aren't particularly iconic), but most of the 7 billion people? Not a chance, I'd say.